Sion in Kansas City, Missouri USA Educating Minds, Expanding - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Sion in Kansas City, Missouri USA

Educating Minds, Expanding Hearts, Empowering Lives

One School - One Mission Two Campuses

Grade School - Co-ed High School - All girls

High School Admissions Website

Mission Statement

Notre Dame de Sion School of Kansas City is an Independent Roman Catholic school providing the highest quality college preparatory education from preschool through grade 12. Sion continues the tradition of the founding sisters, the Congregation of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Sion, inviting students to encounter God in a Catholic atmosphere that respects all faith traditions. The school partners with families and the community to prepare students for socially responsible, values based leadership in a culturally and religiously diverse world.

Vision Statement

Kansas City families will choose Notre Dame de Sion to educate their children because of its academic excellence and Biblical values. They will cherish the school as a nurturing community where Catholic values, integrity, and respect

• prevail. At Sion, students will be empowered to develop and

encouraged to use their unique gifts as they become self- confident, faith-filled adults who will know their "blessing" and bring about the Kingdom of God.

Statement on Diversity & Inclusion

At Notre Dame de Sion Schools of Kansas City, we affirm our

• ngoing commitment to value diversity, a commitment which flows

directly from the charism and welcoming tradition of the Congregation

• f Our Lady of Sion. Our goal is that the entire Sion community -

from our youngest students to our most seasoned alumnae and alumni, from our parents to our faculty and staff members - embrace the unique gifts of each individual and value the distinctiveness of each group of people. Born of diverse backgrounds and identities, we uphold first and foremost the dignity of each person. We are called to actively welcome and respect the individual differences of all. Cultivating this attitude is a lifelong process and is the essence of Notre Dame de Sion.

School Description

Notre Dame de Sion was founded by and is affiliated with the Congregation of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Sion and is one of 19 schools internationally. Recognized by the Diocese of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Notre Dame de Sion is an independent Catholic school managed and operated by a lay Board of Trustees, administration, faculty, and staff who remain committed and faithful to the Sion Mission.

• High School Enrollment: 403 students
• Grade School Enrollment: 248 students

School History in Kansas City

Important Dates & Meetings - Board of Trustees

September 15, 2016 TRUSTEE MEETING September 28, 2016 Trustee Tour Day, 11:00 - 1:00pm Grade School October 14 - 16, 2016 Homecoming, Open House, Alumni of the Year Luncheon November 17, 2016 TRUSTEE MEETING December 1, 2016 Trustee Tuition and Enrollment Meeting December 5, 2016 Grade School State of the School Address, Holiday Reception January 19, 2017 TRUSTEE MEETING January 20, 2017 Sion Feast Day & Heritage Celebration March 4, 2017 Annual Gala Auction, InterContinental Hotel March 9, 2017 TRUSTEE MEETING April 2, 2017 ISACS Welcome Reception, 4:00, Grade School April 3-5, 2017 ISACS Visiting Team, both campuses May 1, 2017 May Crowning, Dedication of HS Outdoor Chapel and Grotto May 18, 2017 TRUSTEE MEETING May 19, 2018 8th Grade Graduation, Grade School May 25, 2017 High School Graduation at the Kaufman Center June, 2017 TRUSTEE End-of-Year Retreat, TBA

Board of Trustee Meetings Five Per Year - Alternating months with Board Committee Meetings Typical Agenda 4:00 pm Opening of Meeting (prayer, preliminary business) 4:15 Finance Committee Presentation (Quarter Financial Statement/Forecast, Update of current year Budget/Enrollment Forecast) 4:45 Strategic Issue Discussion 5:10 Head of School Report Trustee Sub Committee Reports 5:30 Old Business 5:45 New Business

18 Current Members* of the Board of Trustees Members are selected by a committee based on the skills and perspectives they bring to the school community. Alumnae 2 Current Grade School & High School Parent 3 Current Grade School Parent 3 Current High School Parent 1 High School Alumnae Parent 8 KC Diocese Representative 1 NDS Congregational Rep 1 Community Leader 1 Male/Female 33/66% White/People of Color 83/17% Christian/Muslim 94/6% *Some members appear in multiple categories

Board Committees

• Executive Committee
• Advancement
• Audit - done annually by an independent firm
• Committee on Trustees
• Education
• Enrollment & Marketing
• Facilities & Properties
• Finance
• Investment
• Mission
• Strategic Planning Committee

• Trustees serve a three year term. They may be chosen to serve an

additional three years.

• The Executive committee is composed of four elected officers:

Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, Secretary, and Treasurer. This group acts in place of the Board between meetings but does not make policy.

Board of Trustee Members

National Association of Independent Schools Principles of Good Practice and Independent Schools Association Standards for Governance and Administration Board of Trustees Overview: The board is the guardian of the school’s mission. It is the board’s responsibility to ensure that the mission is relevant and vital to the community it serves and to monitor the success of the school in fulfilling its mission. The following principles of good practice are set forth to provide a common perspective

• n the responsibilities of independent school boards. The board and the head work

in partnership to fulfill these principles.

National Association of Independent Schools Principles of Good Practice and Independent Schools Association Standards for Governance and Administration - Board of Trustees – Responsibilities

• 1. Adopts mission, vision, and strategic goals and establishes policies and plans

consistent with this statement.

• 2. Reviews and maintains appropriate / Legal bylaws.
• 3. Assures operational compliance with applicable laws and regulations,

minimizing exposure to legal action.

• 4. Accepts accountability for the financial stability and the financial future of the

school, including strategic planning, capital planning, overseeing endowments,

• perating budgets and fundraising
• 5. Selects, supports, nurtures, and sets and evaluates HOS compensation.

Board of Trustees – Responsibilities – Continued

6. Recognizes its primary work and focus are long-range and strategic. 7. Undertakes formal strategic planning, sets annual goals, conducts annual written evaluations for HOS and BOT, itself. 8. Keeps full and accurate records of meetings, committees, and policies. Communicates its decisions; keeping its deliberations confidential.

• 9. Engages proactively with the HOS in cultivating and maintaining good relations

with school constituents as well as the broader community and exhibits best practices relevant to equity and justice 6. Commits to a program of professional development that includes annual new trustee orientation, ongoing trustee education and evaluation, and board leadership succession planning.

Board of Trustees – Responsibilities – Continued

• 11. HOS will not be a voting member of the BOT, he/she serves as ex officio
• 11. School shall demonstrate boundaries between school governance and
• perations
• 12. Board shall generate resources for providing and maintaining physical facilities,

equipment, and program materials

• 13. There shall be appropriate policies/procedures for management of financial

resources

• 14. There shall be regular, documented performance evaluation of administration,

faculty and staff, and procedures for non-renewal and employment. Termination.

• 15. There shall be regular, documented performance evaluation of HOS by the BOT

and procedures for renewal, non-renewal, and termination of employment.

What role do the Sisters of Our Lady of Sion play in your College/school? Notre Dame de Sion Schools of Kansas City are governed by a lay Board of Trustees incorporated since July, 1990. The Sisters of Sion do not have an official governance position with the school but have named a permanent Trustee position (Mrs. Kay Walkup) as a voting member of the Board and Congregational representative for the Board

• f Trustees. We also have regular communication and

visits by the North American leadership Team,

• Sr. Mary Ellen Coombe.

Who ensures the formation of teachers and staff members in relation to the Sion mission and charism? Notre Dame de Sion School(s) of Kansas City is lead by a single Head of School(s). The Head of School along with Kay Walkup, the Sisters’ representative (named by the Congregation of Sion and voting board member), the Mission Director (named by the Congregation of Sion), faculty Mission Committee, senior administrative team . . .

. . . and campus ministry staff are responsible for the development of mission formation and education of teachers and staff through regular in-service and professional/spiritual development. All faculty and staff are hired and supervised by campus administrators and the Head of School.

Are you designated as a Catholic School? If so, what does this mean in your particular context? Yes, through the maintenance of a current affiliation agreement with the Diocese of Kansas City - St. Joseph, Notre Dame de Sion Schools of Kansas City are recognized as an Independent Catholic School. To be Recognized by the Bishop as a Catholic Institution, the following criteria are to be met:

• Teacher training, certification, formation is

required to be comparable to positions at the Diocesan schools.

• Administrators and teachers are to attend

meetings conducted by the Diocesan School Office.

• Teacher’s qualifications, curriculum and

textbooks provided for religious education and spiritual development are to be jointly and periodically reviewed and approved by our school and the Diocesan School Office.

• We are to provide our students on a regular basis

sacramental and liturgical service conducted only by priests and pastoral leaders.

• Assist with Sacramental preparation of students

to receive the sacraments of the Church at their respective parish.

• The Bishop must approve any changes to the

mission and vision statement.

• The Bishop must approve any changes in Articles
• f Incorporation or the By-Laws.

• Sion must comply with the Catholicity Standards

and expectations set forth for the schools of the

• diocese. Sion must do a self study for

accreditation, study strengths and weaknesses in this area, develop long range plans that will maintain and enhance the Catholic and Sionian

• mission. The Diocesan School Office and the

Sisters of Sion are consulted for direction in completing the self-study. Each naming one or two visiting team members tasked to examine the entire school in light of its Catholic/Sionian mission.

• The Majority membership of the Board of

Trustees must be active, practicing Catholics.

• Annual orientation of the Board of Trustees shall

include input on the school’s Catholic and Sionian focus and how it impacts all aspects of school life.

• The Diocese has no financial obligation, nor will

they or the parishes be solicited for financial

• support. Sion is to provide a semi-annual

financial report within 60 days of the end of the June and December reporting periods.

• The Head of Schools and Principals shall be

an active practicing Catholic.

• Furnish the Diocese with certificate evidencing

liability insurance, which includes abuse coverage in a suitable amount that insures Notre Dame de Sion Schools of Kansas City and the Diocese of Kansas City - St. Joseph.

• The Diocese will financially assess Sion on the

same basis as the Diocesan schools.

• By reason of recognition of Sion schools as

Catholic, they will be listed in the Kennedy Directory.

• In the event it comes to the attention of the

Bishop that any conditions set forth in this agreement is not being satisfactorily fulfilled, the Head of School and Board Chair will be notified in writing and the school will be given 90 days to develop a plan which rectifies the situation.

• A representative of the Kansas City - St.

Joseph Diocese appointed by the Bishop is to maintain a permanent position of the Board of Trustees.

Sion Song

Sion Song.2

Chant de L'École Sion l'écho joyeux répète, Ton nom si cher à tous nos cœurs, Sion, nous sommes ta conquête, Et nous serons tes défenseurs. En ce beau jour, nous sommes toutes fières De nous proclamer tes enfants, De nous ranger sous ta noble bannière, De t'offrir nos cœurs et nos chants. De Sion, vive l'oriflamme, Faisons partout flotter ses deux couleurs, Que dans nos chants passe toute notre âme. Vive Sion, chantons en chœur! Vive Sion, chantons en chœur! Chantons en chœur: Vive Sion Et Notre Dame!